| Doer Promises Protection for Aboriginal Lands | 15 May 07 |
The Manitoba NDP committed to "new protection for sensitive ecological treasures such as the proposed UNESCO heritage site on the East Side of Lake Winnipeg". The commitment was part of a May 7th election announcement. The NDP release indicated: "Today's NDP will move forward to protect the East Side of Lake Winnipeg by introducing a new legislative tool for protecting designated areas and implementing land use plans..."Currently, of the four Manitoba First Nations involved in the WHS process, only Poplar River's traditional lands First Nation are protected from development - on an interim basis until 2009. Pauingassi and Little Grand Rapids have petitioned the government for interim protection of their traditional territories while they develop land use plans without any success to date. According to the release, "The proposed legislation will create a new protected areas designation, which would allow East Side First Nations to create and implement their land-use plans and ensure the area is protected..." Interim protection is an essential tool for planning, enabling a community to focus on planning with the certainty that development permits or licences are not issued while planning takes place. Several legislative mechanisms already exist for interim and permanent protection of lands in Manitoba. Manitoba Wildlands director Gaile Whelan Enns commented: "We are pleased the NDP will make lands protection options available to all First Nations whose lands are in the east side planning initiative area. Delay must be avoided, especially after several years of meetings. Interim protection options are available for immediate lands protection enactment." View the May 11, 2007 Manitoba NDP announcement(DOC) View the May 7, 2007 Manitoba NDP announcement(DOC) View April 30, 2007 Manitoba Wildlands' 2007 election news item Sources: Manitoba NDP, Manitoba Wildlands
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